I’m on a quest in buzzy, beachy Alicante on the Costa Blanca to investigate the rice dishes the Valencian province is famed for, as well as explore the vast palm grove of nearby Elche. I start with a pilgrimage to a restaurant featured in my book on tapas, Andaluz, a mere 25 years ago. Mesón de Labradores in the pedestrianised old town is now engulfed by Italian eateries (so more pizza and pasta than paella) but it remains a comforting outpost of tradition and honest food.
Here I catch up with Timothy Denny, a British chef who relocated to Spain, gained an alicantina girlfriend and became a master of dishes from the region. Over a fideuá de mariscos (seafood noodles, €20), we chew over local gastronomy. “For me, Alicante epitomises the Mediterranean – for rice, seafood and artichokes,” he says. “But there are curiosities, too, like pavo borracho.” Tim explains that so-called “drunken turkeys” are cooked in vast amounts of cognac plus a shot of red wine and eventually emerge as a hefty stew, perfect in winter.
This passion for experimentation has been endorsed by the Catalan master chef, Ferran Adrià, who once stated “[the Costa Blanca] … has a magical elf that takes hold of the products and sneaks into the kitchens to offer diners unique dishes with unique flavours”.
Fideuá de mariscos. Photograph: Jordi Ruiz/Getty Images
Tim emphasises the preponderance of female chefs in the area, quite a rarity in Spain’s male-dominated world of gastronomy. “Because in this historically poor region, the choice was often between cooking and cleaning,” he says. As proof we greet the exuberant owner of Labradores, Raquel Sabater, among the vintage plates, tiles and furniture that have barely changed after all these years.
But I soon discover another reason when I meet the much-garlanded María José San Román at Monastrell, her high-end restaurant beside the marina. Here, as we embark on a refined six-course tasting menu (€79), she tells me about the association Mujeres en Gastronomía (MEG) that she founded in 2018 to unite Alicante’s many talented female chefs. Nicknamed the Queen of Alicante gastronomy, this tornado of energy now heads four restaurants, including the heaving Taberna del Gourmet, with another in the pipeline.
Next day, I lunch at another member of MEG, La Sastrería, whose owner, María Luisa Rivera, changed tack 20 years ago from landscape gardener to chef. Her restaurant, a small modernista beauty, overlooks a lush square of towering centennial ficus trees, their tangled trunks echoed inside by a curvaceous staircase. Here I opt for an arroz del senyoret(€19)named for the little lord (or in my case lady) who doesn’t like handling shellfish, so it all comes peeled. The sénia rice from Valencia’s Albufera (a freshwater lagoon) is perfect, each tiny grain separate despite 20 minutes or so cooking in María Luisa’s complex broth.
Now the island of Tabarca, south of Alicante, beckons. An elongated sandstone slab washed by transparent waters teeming with fish, it is a marine reserve and its coves are a snorkeller’s heaven. After a 25-minute ferry crossing from Santa Pola, I disembark with my guide, Felipe, who fills me in on Tabarca’s rich history.
Seafood at Monastrell
Despite being the smallest inhabited island in Spain, it has seen Greeks, Romans, Berber pirates, smugglers and shipwrecked Genoese sailors who settled there when a military garrison was created in 1760. Quite a history for an islet. Although the garrison later decamped, stone gateways remain leading to quaint streets, a striking church and leafy squares. It’s a dreamy place if you get there before the lunchtime crowds.
I am in search of a unique fisherman’s stew combined with rice. This caldero is, like paella, named after its cooking dish – in this case a cast iron hotpot. At La Almadraba, the owner, a woman called Nines, explains the technique: two courses (€30) start with a succulent dish of potatoes and fish simmered in a broth of alioli, garlic, saffron and parsley so good that I spoon out the remains; it is followed by the rice cooked in the same concoction. The upshot is a fabulous feed overlooking bobbing boats in the harbour and a glittering Med beyond.
Another day, another quest, this time in Elche, inland from Santa Pola and 15 miles from Alicante. The city is famed not only for the exquisite Dama de Elche (a fourth-century BC sculpture of a bejewelled Iberian woman) but also for its vast palm grove. About 200,000 date palms in the largest palmeral in Europe and the northernmost in the world have earned the city Unesco world heritage status. Most of the palms are divided into a grid of rectangular huertos (orchards) fed by irrigation channels that also nourish fruit trees such as pomegranate, citrus and olives.
Miguel Ángel Sánchez, owner of Elche’s largest date company, TodoPalmera, leads me around the Museo del Palmeral, where an enlightening display covers every aspect of the palm tree, whether the plant structure, the use of palm wood and fibre and, extraordinarily, intricate “sculptures” made with white palms for Elche’s Easter processions. For Miguel Ángel, “the palm has so much value: cultural, religious, environmental, nutritional, agricultural, ornamental, functional and spiritual”.
Cooking over a grapevine wood fire at El Cachito
He says that Elche’s date production of about 80 tonnes restricts availability in Spain, so it remains a gourmet product. Five varieties include the widely known Medjoul as well as the local Confitera, which I sample at Miguel Ángel’s farm – freshly harvested, yellow, velvety and utterly delicious. Despite my addiction to Palestinian Medjoul dates, this is an epiphany. When I later spot them at Alicante’s cornucopian Mercado Central, into my bag they go.
My last arroz lunch looms. Instead of indulging at highly rated Mesón el Granaíno, we head south of town to 90-year-old El Cachito, an unpretentious family restaurant. Here I watch another woman, Noelia, orchestrate the flames of grapevine branches in a cavernous, blackened fireplace. The result? A perfect paella of rabbit and wild snails (€18), its glistening grains as flawless as the artichokes grown in her vegetable garden, and as luscious as Elche’s dates.
Towie star Amy Childs has given a health update after her drastic weight lossCredit: InstagramThe 35-year-old has been open about her weight lossCredit: InstagramAmy is a mum-of-fourCredit: Handout
Now, in a new post, the 35-year-old reality favourite has shared an insight into her weight loss after receiving “a lot of comments lately.”
Amy snapped a selfie in the mirror of her walk-in wardrobe, and could be seen wearing a green crop top and black leggings.
She showed off her midriff and stood barefoot while holding one hand up in the air and displaying a glam makeup look.
Amy penned to fans: “Feel like I have to do this post!! A lot of comments lately about my weight. For the past few months I have been really focusing on my nutriton with @jon_jkphysique.
“I have been really honest with you all, after losing a lot of weight, I realised I needed to understand how to eat the right way and to eat the right foods.. it’s been tough but I have started to gain healthy weight back( a little way to go) but I have been going gym, focusing on weight training and working on being more toned.”
Amy continued: “I have also been having my weekly body treatments @3daestheticsuk (will be doing another reel soon) about this treatment.
“This is not an overnight thing and it’s taking time but a journey to be my best self for the family. So please no negative comments please…
“PS jons foods are amazing 👍🏻 please give him a follow.”
Fans flooded the comments with messages of encouragement for the star, as one person penned: “you look amazing well done to you be proud of yourself.”
A second added: “Gorgeous and honest,” and a third echoed: “You look great @amychilds1990 people always have too much to say on peoples weight etc, continue to do you and be fabulous.”
In September, Amy underwent a tummy-tightening treatment.
The Towie star – who used fat jabs briefly two years ago – shared a video of herself on Instagram at the time, telling fans: “So guys, I’m on a journey to feel my most confident self.
“After having four children, dealing with weight loss and stress, my body has been through a lot! But it’s September and the perfect time to reset and create new goals.
The 35-year-old beautician went on to speak about a treatment which claims to “help tighten and firm up” the tummy after losing some elasticity.
A representative for Amy told The Sun: “Two years ago, she briefly tried weight loss injections, but they made her feel unwell and really sick, so she stopped them immediately.
“After having her babies, she wanted to feel like herself again and worked with a nutritionist, which helped her lose weight in a healthy way.
“Still, she was left with a tummy that felt jiggly and loose. This year, after her mum became ill, she lost more weight due to stress which she has spoken about on the show as well as the stress of cancelling a wedding.
“Following this she has felt a renewed drive to focus on her health.
“Through balanced nutrition, consistent training and support from 3D ReFirm treatments, she’s now on a journey to become fitter, stronger, and healthier, inside and out and tackle the areas of concern like her crepey skin on her tummy.”
Amy shares two of her four children with fiancé Billy who she first met in 2000.
The Trans-Siberian Railway is known around the world for its impressive length, but many don’t know that they can go further and enter one of the most dangerous countries on Earth
Rory Gannon Showbiz Journalist
04:34, 15 Nov 2025
Russia’s Trans-Siberian Railway serves as the track for the longest train journey in the world
The world’s longest direct train journey takes eight days to reach its destination – and crosses into one of the world’s most secretive countries. Since June, direct passenger trains have been running from the Russian capital of Moscow all the way to North Korea’s Pyongyang.
Kim Jong-un’s hermit kingdom remains one of the most secretive – and feared – nations on Earth, with the tyrant’s iron fist seeing residents executed for the simple act of watching foreign TV.
That’s a staggering journey of 6,213 miles and makes it by far the longest train journey on Earth, according to the Guinness World Records.
A large portion of the trip uses the Trans-Siberian Railway, that runs across Russia from the capital Moscow in the west to Vladivostok in the east. Spanning a total of 9,288 kilometres (5,772 miles), that in itself is the longest single track in the entire world.
Passengers travelling from Russia to North Korea will travel in a specially-made carriage that is attached to the regular Trans-Siberian Railway service. Once arriving in Vladivostok, the carriage is then reattached to another train and carries on to Pyongyang.
These services were quite infrequent to begin with before being forced to grind to a total halt following the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Since then, however, the hermit kingdom has been trying to patch up its relationship with Russia, going as far as to send North Korean soldiers to fight in Ukraine.
Very few Westerners have dared to travel the full way from Moscow to Pyongyang. One group documented their trip back in 2018 and shared what the conditions on board have been like. As they boarded the train in Moscow, they explained that the dedicated Korean carriage was clear to see.
They claimed it was clear to see the train has not been kept in the best condition. “It was cold inside our compartment — no heating, maybe 10 degrees,” the travellers explained, adding that heating would not be turned on for several hours. “If it’s cold outside this period, the cars are individually heated with a coal stove, which is located in every car.
“However, individual heating requires that coal is available – and this was not the case in our North Korean sleeping car, but no problem, we had warm clothes.
“However, the water-boiler was working, so preparing tea, coffee and instant-noodles was possible.”
North Korea’s feared reputation is not without reason. The government is known to monitor all forms of communication by residents, to ensure there is no contact with the outside world. Thousands have been detained in “political prison camps” for “crimes” such as trying to flee the country or practising their religion.
Food is often withheld from the wider population, instead prioritising the elite and military. According to the UN, 10.7million, ore more than 40% of the entire population, are undernourished.
A resident of the Gaza Strip, who is one of 153 Palestinians that landed in South Africa without the correct paperwork this week, says the group did not know where they would end up when they left Israel.
Loay Abu Saif, who fled Gaza with his wife and children, told Al Jazeera on Friday that the journey out of the battered and besieged enclave was a “trip of suffering”.
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“We were not too convinced that any group … would be able to make this kind of evacuation,” Abu Saif said from Johannesburg, a day after the chartered plane his group was on landed at the city’s OR Tambo International Airport.
“I can say I feel safe … which means a lot for Palestinians, especially for those in Gaza,” he added.
Details are slowly emerging of a controversial transit scheme run by a non-profit, through which activists say Israel is encouraging the displacement of Palestinians out of Gaza by helping them settle in other countries.
Based on Abu Saif’s testimony to Al Jazeera, the Israeli military appears to have facilitated his group’s transfer through an Israeli airport.
The flight carrying Abu Saif left Israel’s Ramon Airport and transited through Nairobi, Kenya, before landing in Johannesburg on Thursday morning, where authorities did not initially allow the passengers to disembark as the Palestinians did not have departure stamps from Israel on their documents.
All in all, the journey lasted more than 24 hours and involved a change of planes.
Abu Saif said his family left Gaza without knowing their final destination. They only learned they were bound for Johannesburg when boarding their connecting flight in Nairobi.
Al Jazeera’s Nour Odeh, reporting from Amman, Jordan, on Friday, said Israel was yet to comment on the issue, but it was unlikely the Palestinians who left did so without “Israeli coordination”.
“Nobody can approach that imaginary yellow line [in Gaza] without being shot at. These people had to be bused through the yellow line, through the 53 percent of Gaza that the Israeli army still controls and is operating in out of Gaza, through Israel to the Ramon airport,” she reported.
Uncertainty loomed
According to Abu Saif, his wife registered the family with a nonprofit called Al-Majd Europe, with headquarters in Germany with an office in Jerusalem, according to their website.
The group advertised the registration form on social media, he revealed. On how he was selected, Abu Saif said the process appeared to focus on families with children and required a valid Palestinian travel document, along with security clearance from Israel.
“This is all what I know about the criteria,” he said.
When asked whether he knew in advance when they would leave Gaza, he said no timelines were given.
“They told us … we will inform you one day before – that’s what happened,” he said, adding that the organisation told them not to carry any personal bags or luggage except relevant documents.
In terms of cost, people were charged about $1,400-$2,000 per person for the trip, Abu Saif said. Parents also paid the same fee per child or baby they carried with them.
After they were selected to leave, Abu Saif and his family were taken by bus from the southern Gaza city of Rafah to the Karem Abu Salem crossing (called Kerem Shalom in Israel), along the border with Israel, where they underwent checks before being transferred onward towards Israel’s Ramon Airport.
He said their travel documents were not stamped by Israeli authorities, but he thought it was just a routine procedure since there were no Palestinian border officials in Gaza.
“We realised the problem … when we reached South Africa and they were asking us … ‘Where are you coming from?’” Abu Saif said.
Future plans
The group that organised the trip, Al-Majd Europe, said they would be able to help his family for a week or two, after which they would be on their own, Abu Saif said.
However, he added that the evacuees had made their own plans going forward.
“They have their papers for Australia, Indonesia, or Malaysia. We can say that 30 percent of the total number of passengers left South Africa on the same day or within the first two days,” he said, while others may choose to stay for several reasons, including receiving treatment.
South African authorities reported that of the 153 Palestinians who landed on Thursday, 130 entered the country, while 23 transferred to other destinations.
“People have calculated that the cost of life in any country … will be cheaper compared to the cost of living in Gaza,” said Abu Saif.
The Transoceânica bus provides a direct link between Peru’s capital Lima and Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro, but despite the luxury destinations, the bus’s journey is far from glam
10:52, 12 Nov 2025Updated 10:52, 12 Nov 2025
The world’s longest bus journey travels an entire continent
Taking a long bus journey while travelling the globe may not be too uncommon – a brief watch of BBC’s hit Race Across the World shows that.
But nothing comes close to attempting the longest direct route in the world. The journey spans across the width of an entire continent, with passengers travelling as many as 3,900 miles and passing through 30 different cities.
The Transoceânica bus has been described as “brutal” by those who have braved the entire five-day journey between Lima, Peru and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. But while the two nations are famed for their natural beauty and amazing landscapes, the Transoceânica does little to actually show this.
According to testimonies, the journey is a long slog, as passengers battle for comfort while passing through rather dismal looking areas of both Peru and Brazil. However, to reach the final destination, many travellers say, is entirely worth it.
Passing through some of the most well known cities in Brazil, including Rio and São Paulo, the bus stops at 30 different locations where cleaners hop on board to clean the bus while people stretch their legs. There are various amenities passengers can use while on the bus, including Wi-Fi, filtered water, USB ports and toilets, according to Diario do Comercio.
Costing around 1,300 Brazilian reals (£187) one way, the company claims that the bus — known as a “semi-sleeper” — has soft and comfortable seats. But voyagers who have taken on the challenge themselves have had different things to say about their experience.
YouTuber Noel Philips said his experience was subpar, describing his time on the bus as “absolute hell”. He added that on the bus, it appears that personal space is a virtually non-existent concept.
In a video documenting the trip, Noel said: “Nobody has [headphones]; everyone just plays everything on full blast. And when they can’t hear it above everybody else’s, they just turn theirs up so in the end you just have 15 phones playing different things at 55,000 decibels.”
He added that the journey through Peru was filled with interesting landscapes and phenomenal and breathtaking views. But once they cleared border control and entered Brazil, things became rather repetitive, admitting the route does not exactly show the full breadth of either country’s natural beauty.
As well as this, poor Neil was seen complaining about the constant delays the bus faced as they journeyed through the mountains, complaining at the lack of heating on the bus. They were also beset by delays, as roadworks and slow tankers hampered their progress and risked turning a five-day journey into six.
Meanwhile, one Brazilian traveller documented his own experience on the bus as it passed through the Andes mountains and into the Amazon. He explained that with not much to do, many passengers end up chatting about deep and important topics.
While going through the southwest of Brazil, he spoke with the other passengers, after a debate was struck up about which was the best version of ceviche, one of Peru’s national dishes. Many of the passengers joked their own homemade versions of the dish were better, as the morale between those who were travelling seemed high.
But despite the hefty journey that people undertake to get from one side of South America to the other, the bus does not appear to run all year round. Operated by Brazilian bus company Trans Acreana, a timetable for the bus for the rest of the year or into 2026 seems to not exist.
THERE is a beautiful train journey that claims to go to the “end of the world” and has some stunning views along the way.
Officially called El Tren del Fin de Mundo (The End of the World Train), the train is a historic steam railway that takes passengers on a journey through Tierra del Fuego National Park in Argentina.
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The End of the World Railroad near Ushuaia in Argentina travels to the Tierra del Fuego National ParkCredit: AlamyOn the journey, visitors can see breathtaking views of the landscape including waterfallsCredit: Alamy
In fact, the railway is considered the southernmost one in the world.
And the rather morbid name comes from the it’s original purpose as a prison train.
It was built back in the early 20th century and used to transport inmates to collect timber and a number of other building materials from the forest.
They would then take these materials to construct a prison and settlement.
But by 1947 the railway closed as a result of the prison closing.
Then in 1994, a four mile section of the track was rebuilt and opened as a tourist attraction.
Today, visitors can now ride along the railway as a sightseeing experience of Patagonia, as well as learn about the history of the train line.
The ‘End of the World Station’ is located around five miles from Ushuaia, which is where the journey begins.
Then, on the journey, passengers can see the Pipo River, the Macarena Waterfall and the ‘tree cemetery’ – an area that features a number of the stumps that were left behind by the prison inmates.
When the train crosses the Pipo River, it goes over Puente Quemado (Burned Bridge), which features the wooden remains of the old bridge beneath the newer tracks.
It then stops at La Macarena Station, where passengers can get off the train to look at the cascading waterfall and learn about the local people called Yamana.
The train journey then ends at the National Park Station, where passengers can get off and venture into Tierra del Feugo National Park.
The park entrance fee is separate to the price of the train journey, and it costs around £20.11 to enter.
On board the train, there are a number of different classes, including ‘Tourist’.
In these carriages, there are comfortable seats and large windows and audio commentary is available in multiple languages for passengers to learn about the history of the region, as well as the train.
In Premium Service, passengers get priority boarding, heated cars, food and even exclusive train souvenirs.
Passengers in this class can also asked for a private tour of the railway workshops, where they will learn about the behind-the-scenes work that keeps the train running.
If on the train at 9:30am, there is a breakfast menu with bread, croissants, yoghurt and mixed nuts.
In Premium Class, passengers will also receive a mealCredit: Alamy
At midday and 3pm, there is a lunch menu with dishes including lamb casserole, chicken casserole, spinach and ricotta cannelloni, pizza and empanadas.
A children’s menu is also available.
For something really special, there is a VIP service as well, where passengers receive a three-course menu and an exclusive access experience.
One recent visitor said: “This was really cool, we’d seen some of the best scenery in the world and now we were riding a miniature train to the End of the World – and I lived to tell the tale!
“There was a stop at a pretty waterfall and some funny antics by the local convicts who clearly had been left behind by the penal colony.
“I thought this was a cool thing to do, really enjoyed it.”
Another added: “A magical experience like straight out of a Christmas story, we went [when] everything was snowy beautiful [and] met wild horses on the visit.
Tickets cost around £34.63 per adult and £17.32 per child between four and 12-years-old.
The Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge in China has been officially opened and is now the highest bridge in the world – reducing the journey time for locals from two hours to just two minutes
The remarkable structure boasts a deck-to-surface measurement of 625 metres(Image: Getty)
China has unveiled a stunning new record-breaker after officially opening the world’s highest bridge in Guizhou province in the southwest of the country. The Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge has slashed journey times from two hours down to just two minutes, according to local state media.
The remarkable structure boasts a deck-to-surface measurement of 625 metres – more than half a kilometre – making it tower above the previous record holder. It beats the Beipanjiang Bridge (Duge Bridge), also in China, which stands at 565.4 metres, by nearly 60 metres.
China’s rapid construction capabilities have recently drawn admiration from figures including Reform UK MP Zia Yusuf, who publicly expressed frustration on social media about the lengthy timescales for smaller infrastructure schemes in the United Kingdom.
Work on the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge commenced in January 2022 and was finished in under four years. The ambitious scheme resulted in a structure stretching almost 3km across a canyon dubbed the “Earth crack”.
The bridge measures 2,890 metres in total length and underwent rigorous testing before authorities gave the green light for public use.
As reported by ITV, before the bridge could be deemed safe for traffic, a dynamic load test was conducted, reports the Express.
This involved 96 lorries driving onto specific points of the structure in groups.
The new structure has now bagged the Guinness World Record for being the tallest bridge globally.
Now, globetrotters from all corners of the world are keen to witness the magnificent construction that officially opened its doors on 28 September 2025.
The Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge boasts glass walkways for visitors to gaze down at the Beipan River, approximately 580 metres below.
It also features viewing platforms and a glass lift leading to its sky-high café, set to open in November this year.
For those seeking a thrill, they can bungee jump from the bridge.
State media have reported plans for professional BASE jumping events.
In 2019, a Sudanese team of jiu-jitsu athletes set out on an extraordinary quest: to travel by land from Sudan to Kenya, despite having no funding and limited resources, to compete in the LionHeart Nairobi Open.
Together members of the Muqatel Training Center for martial arts travelled across three countries, carrying not just their hopes and dreams, but the spirit of a revolution that reshaped Sudan.
Journey to Kenya is a documentary short about resilience, unity and determination — a powerful reminder that dreams can transcend borders.
A film by Ibrahim “Snoopy” Ahmed, produced by In Deep Visions.
